D-List U

While the Learning Annex’s adult-ed courses have historically been about moneymaking schemes and hobbies (“Blogging for Dollars 2.0,” “How to Talk to Your Cat”), the school is seeing increasing interest in the teachings of the kind-of famous. “We’re going more and more celebrity,” says founder Bill Zanker, an approach he hit on after a real-estate expo featuring Donald Trump drew 82,000 registrants. (“It was the largest educational event in the history of man,” he says.) Zanker estimates that celebrity and celebrity-ish instructors “are now about 30 percent of our business, and growing.” A sampling of recent course catalogues.

AN EVENING WITH TERESA GIUDICE Professor: Giudice of
Real Housewives
of New Jersey. Lessons included: Promotional materials were vague but promised that “this inspiring evening with a woman who has 377,000 online followers will get you going in the right direction.” Recent addition to
Giudice’s CV: Made news for shouting match outside courtroom where her husband was being sued for fraud.

BOUNCE, DON’T BREAK—A GUIDE
TO LIFE, LOVE,
AND SUCCESSLessons included: “T&A won’t get you ahead (but it will get you a nice car).” Professor: Former Playboy Playmate of the Year and Celebrity Apprentice alum Brande Roderick. Recent addition
to Roderick’s CV:
An autograph signing at the Frank & Son Collectible Show
in suburban L.A.
in December.

REALITY CHECK—
HOW TO MAKE IT IN REALITY TVLessons included: How to “pay attention to trends in the marketplace.” Professor: Apprentice, Surreal Life 5, Fear Factor, and Girls Behaving Badly vet Omarosa Manigault Stallworth. Recent addition to Stallworth’s CV: Helped created cable dating show Donald J. Trump Presents the Ultimate Merger.

HOW TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION AND CHARM THE SOCKS OFF OF ANYONELessons included: “How to exude high doses of charisma, charm, and personal magnetism.” Professor: Countess
Luann de Lesseps,
Real Housewives of New
York City.Recent addition to the countess’s CV: Released first single, “Money Can’t Buy You Class.”